Team Manager Plant Risk

Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI); Wellington; On-site; NZD 122,000 - 142,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Additional MPI leave days

Annual Wellness payment

Career development and internal growth

Job summary

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) seeks a Team Manager Plant Risk in Wellington CBD to lead a team of technical specialists delivering science-based plant risk advice that supports New Zealand's biosecurity system.

You will foster an inclusive, high‑performing culture, enable capability development, and work with Plant and Pathways leaders to deliver high‑quality guidance, drive continuous improvement and adapt to evolving priorities and technologies.

Qualifications

• Experience leading and developing high-performing teams.
• Strong coaching, communication and people leadership skills.
• Ability to influence and collaborate across a range of stakeholders.
• Experience leading teams through change and improvement initiatives.
• Sound judgement and decision-making skills.
• Continuous improvement mindset and interest in new ways of working.
• Understanding of science, risk, regulatory or technical environments would be advantageous.
• Experience in plant biosecurity would be beneficial but is not essential.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach and develop a team of technical specialists
• Foster a positive, inclusive and high-performing team culture
• Support the delivery of high-quality plant risk advice and work programmes
• Build strong relationships across Biosecurity New Zealand and wider MPI
• Lead change initiatives and drive continuous improvement
• Contribute to wider leadership across the Plant and Pathways group

Skills

Leadership

People management

Coaching

Stakeholder influence

Change management

Job description

Job Description

Job title: Team Manager Plant Risk

Role type: Permanent opportunity

Location: Wellington CBD

Salary band & range: General Salary Range C: $121,764 -$142,494 depending on skills and experience

About the Role - Kōrero mō te Tūranga

As Team Manager Plant Risk, you'll lead a team of highly skilled specialists responsible for providing science-based plant risk advice that supports New Zealand's biosecurity system. You'll create an environment where people can do their best work, supporting performance, development and wellbeing while ensuring the team delivers high-quality technical advice. Working closely with other leaders across Plant and Pathways, you'll contribute to group priorities, build strong relationships, and help navigate a dynamic and evolving operating environment.

This is an opportunity to help shape the future of the team by driving continuous improvement, exploring new ways of working, and supporting the responsible use of emerging technologies to enhance how plant risk advice is delivered.

In this role you will:

• Lead, coach and develop a team of technical specialists
• Foster a positive, inclusive and high-performing team culture
• Support the delivery of high-quality plant risk advice and work programmes
• Build strong relationships across Biosecurity New Zealand and wider MPI
• Lead change initiatives and drive continuous improvement
• Contribute to wider leadership across the Plant and Pathways group

About You - Mōu

We're looking for an experienced people leader who can bring out the best in a team of technical specialists. This role is less about being the technical expert and more about enabling technical experts to thrive. We're seeking a strong people leader who can build capability, support performance and lead through change. You'll be comfortable working in a complex environment, balancing operational delivery with longer-term improvement opportunities, and helping your team adapt to evolving priorities and ways of working.

To be successful you'll bring:

• Experience leading and developing high-performing teams
• Strong coaching, communication and people leadership skills
• The ability to influence and collaborate across a range of stakeholders
• Experience leading teams through change and improvement initiatives
• Sound judgement and decision-making skills
• A continuous improvement mindset and interest in new ways of working
• An understanding of science, risk, regulatory or technical environments would be advantageous
• Experience in plant biosecurity would be beneficial but is not essential.

About the Team - Mō tō mātou Rōpū

The Plant Risk team sits within Plant and Pathways, Biosecurity New Zealand. The team provides science-based advice and risk analyses to support decisions that help protect New Zealand from plant pests and diseases.

You will join a collaborative leadership team that works closely together to deliver shared outcomes across the group. Managers are encouraged to take a broader leadership perspective, contributing not only to their own team's success but also to the wider direction and capability of Plant and Pathways.

About MPI - Mō Te Manatū Ahu Matua

We're passionate about growing prosperity in the sector while ensuring respect for Kaitiaki – guardianship of our natural resources.

Benefits of working at MPI - Ngā hua o te mahi i te Manatū Ahu Matua

• Additional MPI leave days
• Annual Wellness payment
• Career development and internal opportunities across the branch and organisation

Are you ready to make a difference? - Kua rite koe mō tēnei mahi whaitake?

We are committed to being a good partner under Te Tiriti o Waitangi which includes working closely with iwi, hapū, whānau and hāpori. We aspire to reflect the diverse communities we serve, so we welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, and identities. As an organisation, we are committed to making Manatū Ahu Matua Ministry for Primary Industries a great place to work for all.

You must hold the right to work in New Zealand or be eligible to obtain it.

Applications close at 11:59pm on Sunday 1 November 2026.

If you have any questions about the role, please email [e-mail]